Hey, don't give me any details but the game seems to make a bigger deal out of Lee (mentioned in a book and his little vengeance speech) then warranted for the story line. Does he play a significant part in Gothic 2? I'll probably play "1" another time before loading up "2" and it seems like a lead in to me.

Thanks - it must have been really apparent for me to have noticed :) . I haven't got Gothic 3 yet but it is a planned buy. There's a "4" out now (or soon) too, right?

AND in Gothic 3 too.

Lee can play a pretty significant role in Gothic 3, although if memory serves you're also not even required to so much as talk to him to beat the game.

I haven't actually played Gothic 3 tbh, but I saw a friend playing it, when he was helping Lee with a quest, so I have no idea if this quest was necessary to finish the game.

Risen is the "real" Gothic 4 (same developer). Arcania: Gothic 4 is out soon (demo is out now), but early word is it blows, at least for hardcore Gothic fans.

"Risen" is included in "Gothic 3 Gold" isn't it?

Risen is a completely separate game. You must be thinking of the Forsaken Gods expansion, which is the worst thing ever created.

No, but Gothic 3 is included in the NA version of the GOTY edition of Risen.

That must be it. I only asked because I thought "Risen" might have been the add on. I actually have never heard of it before - then again, the whole series never was very popular in the USA (and, other then being bug-infested and crashing several times per session, it is a fun game so we missed out for whatever reasons).

PS _ I was referring to Gothic 1 as buggy - haven't played the others yet.

It's perfectly stable for most people I think (GOGs version anyway). Was for me.

Unfortunately, for me, the frames freeze up every session I've had; usually multiple times and I have more then enough space and speed to handle the game and the "cntl-alt-F8" string doesn't free it up. Many times, mechanics stop working like drawing a weapon requiring two escapes (it seems to get most working again) and the namesless one starts hopping when run-hopping away also requiring two escapes which often results in his being caught when trying to get away. Irritating but the game is old so expected.